PORTSMOUTH—Benjamin Claravall Alonso, 81, passed away September 15, 2025 in his home. He was born in Ilagan, Isabela, Philippines on February 27, 1944 to the late Jose Alonso Pal and Angeles Claravall Alonso.

Benjamin and his family immigrated and lived on the island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands since 1984. He worked as a Warehouse Manager for Mars, Inc. and Hunter Foods, Inc. He became fond of collecting M&M candy dispensers and later gifting them to kids. He moved to Suffolk, but later relocated to Portsmouth, Virginia after his retirement in 2009 for an APOstolic mission (of taking care of his grandkids). He loved cooking filipino and spanish dishes and was best known for preparing jamon, meatloaf, and arroz valenciana for family gatherings.

Benjamin is survived by his wife of 53 years, Francisca (Anching) Jamias Alonso; his daughters, Angela Marie Isabel (Anabel) Jamias Alonso & Francisca (Rica) Alonso Fowler; son-in-law, Gregory Shane Fowler; and grandsons, Gregory Alexander (Alex) Alonso Fowler & Sean Benjamin (Ben) Alonso Fowler. Benjamin is the oldest of 12 siblings: four have preceded him in death (Jose Marie, Alberto, Teddy John, & Vicente) and he is survived by seven (Manuel, Angel, Consuelo Alonso Borjal, Maxine Alonso Pineda, Amparo, Angeles, & Fernando); plus several relatives, in-laws, and special friends.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 23, at Church of the Resurrection, 3501 Cedar Ln., Portsmouth. The family will receive friends an hour prior at the church. Burial will follow at All Saints Catholic Cemetery in Portsmouth. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.